"You... you can really help me kill Yang Xiao?"
Xuan Tianzhan was somewhat surprised.
And even a little taken aback.
But at the same time, an endless, wild joy surged from the depths of his heart.
Ever since he first met Yang Xiao, his previously unstoppable momentum had begun to falter. First, he failed to obtain what he sought after killing the Earth Fire Qilin Beast.
Then, Yang Xiao killed two of his maids.
He had thought Yang Xiao was just a minor character and that killing him during the Nine Sects Grand Competition would be easy enough. But when the competition finally arrived, Yang Xiao had become so powerful that Xuan Tianzhan lost even the courage to act against him.
Even his greatest backer, his ancestor Xuan Tianxin, was powerless against him.
At this moment.
Xuan Tianzhan, who had always prided himself on being an unparalleled genius, was on the verge of a breakdown.
The man had been a mere ant, yet after just one year, he could now kill him in an instant.
For Xuan Tianzhan, it was as if a staggering blow had knocked him from the heavens down into the mortal dust.
The jealousy in his heart.
The desire to kill.
Both burned with an unbearable intensity.
And now, this terrifying Barbarian Beast King before him was actually offering to help.
How could Xuan Tianzhan not be shocked?
He was shaken.
And absolutely ecstatic.
"Of course. As long as you promise me one thing, I will help you kill that man. And I'll do it immediately."
The Golden-winged Roc's eyes were full of smugness.
It hadn't expected that a little prodding would be so effective. 'These humans,' it thought, 'are truly foolish.'
"Don't believe it! It's lying!"
Just then, a blood-red figure walked over from somewhere in the valley.
The voice was cold.
The expression was also cold.
It was Xue Yi.
Seeing this blood-red figure, a sharp glint flashed in the Golden-winged Roc's eyes, but when it saw the person clearly, it started to laugh.
"So, it's one of the living dead. What's this? Inheritor, are you going to listen to this thing?"
The moment it said this, Xue Yi—who had always been calm and composed, her expression never wavering—showed a slight change in countenance, but she quickly returned to normal.
'Living dead?'
Xuan Tianzhan's mind was filled with confusion.
However, he'd long had his reservations about Xue Yi, only tolerating her because she was still useful. But now, since entering the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion and comprehending five stances of the Celestial Desolation Swordsmanship, Xuan Tianzhan felt his strength had soared.
Even if he wasn't Xue Yi's match, he wasn't far off.
'Besides, Xue Yi hasn't made a single move since we entered the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion,' Xuan Tianzhan thought. 'Could my ancestor have chosen the wrong person?'
'Picked some imposter to fill the ranks.'
'No matter what she is, she's not much use to me now. If Yang Xiao really did comprehend six stances of the Swordsmanship to get here, then with his strength, Xue Yi would be no match for him. My only hope is to rely on this creature before me.'
With this thought, Xuan Tianzhan's already firm Heart Spirit became even more resolute.
He looked at the Golden-winged Roc and said decisively, "I believe you. But I want to know, what do you want me to do?"
"It's simple. Form a Heaven and Earth Contract with me. Guarantee that once you become the master of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion, you will set me free. How about it? A simple enough condition, isn't it?"
"Set you free? Does that mean once I become master of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion, all of you Barbaric Beasts will be under my control?"
Xuan Tianzhan's eyes instantly lit up.
"Hmph. Ambitious, aren't you? Still, you should focus on your current crisis. That boy's natural talent is far greater than yours. If I'm not mistaken, you used seven or more Inheritance Sword Orders just to get here, didn't you? Yet that boy, who entered at the same time as you with only a single Inheritance Sword Order, has made it this far."
"More importantly, he's already attempting to claim the inheritance of the Celestial Poison God King. If he succeeds, forget you—even I would have to give him a wide berth. How can you possibly compete with him?"
"Wanting to become the master of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion is just a pipe dream."
The Golden-winged Roc was merciless.
Its words made Xuan Tianzhan's face flush red.
The soaring ambition that had just risen was instantly beaten back down.
But he also knew, deep down, that the Golden-winged Roc was right.
'Damn it! If it weren't for that brat Yang Xiao, the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion would absolutely be mine. But now... Hmph.'
Xuan Tianzhan raised his head, looked at the Golden-winged Roc, and said, "Fine, I agree. But what method do you have to kill Yang Xiao? You said it yourself, if he obtains the Celestial Poison God King's inheritance, even you might not be his match. At that point, how would you kill him?"
"Heh heh. You have a point. If he obtains the inheritance of the Celestial Poison God King, I truly would be hard-pressed to deal with him. But... what if we simply don't let him obtain it?"
The Golden-winged Roc smiled faintly.
A golden light flashed, and a token appeared in its grasp.
Looking at the confused Xuan Tianzhan, it said, "This token is called the Little Beihuang Order. As long as you refine it, you can change one of the rules of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion."
"Once you change the rule that prevents Barbaric Beasts from entering the Land of Inheritance, I can storm the Poison King Valley of the Celestial Poison God King. When that time comes, won't killing a mere Mortal be child's play?"
As soon as these words were spoken, joy instantly appeared on Xuan Tianzhan's face.
"Really? I can truly use this Little Beihuang Order to change the rules? Wait, that's not right. If it's that simple, why haven't you done it? And what if I change the rule and you decide to kill me afterward?"
Xuan Tianzhan wasn't a complete idiot, especially not when it came to his own safety. On that front, he was quite shrewd.
Because he was terrified of death.
The Golden-winged Roc felt another surge of contempt for the man's reaction.
However, it had no intention of fooling Xuan Tianzhan.
It said faintly, "I will make a Heaven and Earth oath, and so will you. Once the oath is made, our actions will be under the watch of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao. Any violation will bring down heavenly punishment, something that even the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion cannot withstand. As for why I don't refine it myself? It's because this Little Beihuang Order can only be refined by someone who cultivates the Celestial Desolation Swordsmanship. Understand now?"
"Understood. Then let's begin now."
Xuan Tianzhan's heart was put at ease.
The binding of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao was effective for both Martial Cultivators and Immortal Cultivators like them.
One could say that any living being in this world who made an oath under the Heaven and Earth Great Dao had to abide by it. History was not without those who had defied it, but without exception, even Eraless Divine Kings had been reduced to dust for their transgression.
Naturally, Xuan Tianzhan did not dare to defy it.
So, the Roc and the man made a Heaven and Earth Contract of non-aggression, and Xuan Tianzhan got the Little Beihuang Order as he wished.
"Refine it, and you can change the rules. When that time comes, killing that boy will be a simple matter for me. But you must hurry. That boy is no simple character."
"Yes, I'll refine it right now."
Xuan Tianzhan examined the Little Beihuang Order for a moment, then immediately began to refine it.
As he began the refining process.
Xuan Tianzhan started to laugh.
'So easy.'
'Yang Xiao, it looks like this time, you're dead for sure!'